Effect of Edutainment on Utilization of Sexual Health Services Among In-school Adolescents in Selected Secondary Schools in Lagos State, Nigeria.

Abstract:

Background: Adolescence is a pivotal stage of life marked by rapid physical, emotional, and social changes, which play a crucial role in shaping an individual’s future health and well-being. During this time, adolescents begin to form their identities, develop independence, and make decisions that can have long-lasting effects on their health Therefore, this study assessed the Impact of edutainment on knowledge and attitude of sexual health services utilization among in-school adolescents in Lagos State, Nigeria. Methodology: The study employed a quasi-experimental design. A sample size of 30 Adolescents for each group was derived using the Power formula. Two Local Government Areas were randomly selected in Lagos State. Ikorodu was the Experimental group (EG) and Eti-osa was the Control group (CG). A structured validated questionnaire with Cronbach’s alpha reliability index ranging from 0.7 to 0.8 was used to collect data. Data was collected at baseline, immediate post-intervention and six weeks follow-up. Data was analysed using descriptive, and inferential st gAatistics at 5% level of significance. Results: Findings showed that at baseline, assessed on a scale of 0 to 45 and categorized as low (0–15), moderate (16–30), and high (31 and above), show that the control group had a mean utilization score of 5.67 (SE = 0.88) with a standard deviation of 4.80. Similarly, the experimental group had a mean score of 7.43 (SE = 0.58) with a standard deviation of 3.19. Both scores fall within the low utilization category, indicating limited engagement with sexual health services. However, at the 12th-week follow-up, the mean score significantly increased to 41.93 ±1.66, suggesting a substantial rise in the utilization of these services post-intervention. The effect size (ES) of 13.57, with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 33.25 to 35.75, is large, indicating a significant and practical improvement in the utilization behavior of the participants. Conclusion: This research highlights the significant role of targeted educational interventions in improving adolescents' utilization of sexual health services (SHS). Prior to the intervention, both the control and experimental groups exhibited low levels utilization. However, after the intervention, the experimental group showed marked improvement in all areas, demonstrating the effectiveness of educational efforts in addressing common barriers such as misinformation, stigma, and lack of awareness.